Archive Interviews: John Wilson & Éamon de Buitléar

I was reared on what was probably the nearest dairy farm to what was then Nelson's Pillar.

You know, we lived out in the country.

And as a young lad, you're in contact with animals all the time.

But even when you were going into the city, you were going into the cattle mart, for example, in the North Circular Road, which was the biggest cattle mart in Europe, which was held in the very centre of the city.

And you could see animals going up and down, you know, the North Circular Road heading for the boats.

And there were all these piggeries and small dairies in and around Ballybock and Fairview and that area.

The whole city at that stage was alive with animals.

It's been sanitised since, regrettably.

But at that stage, you know, people were involved and had things to do and had a meaningful existence caring for animals within the city structure.

And regrettably, that's all gone.

So, I mean, I was well used to brought up with animals, as indeed was everybody.

I mean, it wasn't just myself.

Everybody was.

Was it good fun? It was, of course.

It was a way of life and you always had something to do and you were never bored.

And when you lived on a farm, there was always something to be doing.

Indeed, my dear father, who is alive and well and living in Kilcúil with my mother, insisted that young lads should never be left idle and put work in their way and kept them busy at all stages of the day and night.

Whenever he saw you standing around, you got something to do.

What sort of things? Come on, tell

us.

Well, I mean, there were always calves to be fed.

There were always things to be cleaned out.

There were always cows to be got in, to be milked, to be counted.

And even if he had nothing to do, he'd send you off to count the cattle.

That was a great trick.